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Charles B. Sanchez

Member of the Family Law Section

State Bar Association

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Attorney Charles B. Sanchez, longtime domestic violence commissioner for the 13th Judicial District, has announced his candidacy for the recently created position of District Court Judge, Family Division.He is a Democrat.

The 13th Judicial District includes Valencia, Sandoval and Cibola counties.

Sanchez has been an attorney for 23 years, having graduated from New Mexico State University in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in government.He attended Drake University Law School and graduated in 1980.

Sanchez is a former public defender for the 13th and 7th Judicial Districts and also served as Belen city attorney for several years.He said he completed advanced course work in family law issues, including domestic violence, at the National Judicial College in Reno, Nev., in 1998.

A family law judge determines child custody, support, time-sharing and various other domestic issues in divorces and paternity actions that must be resolved by the court system, he said in a news release.Sanchez said that, as a domestic violence commissioner, he has been making these decisions for years.

He said he believes that individuals "should be given every opportunity to try and reach an amicable solution to their differences without the court system having to make a decision that so profoundly affects their lives."He said he believes that mediation and other tools available through the courts should be utilized.

"Preservation of the family is always a desired outcome of cases," Sanchez said."How-ever, when measures fail, the best interests of the children are addressed first and then the remaining issues are resolved."

Sanchez, who is a member of the family law section of the State Bar Association and past president of the Valencia County Bar Association, said he has either represented individuals in or presided over several thousand family law cases during his career.

Sanchez and his wife, Juanita, have three children, Christy, Justine and Ben.

Charles B. Sanchez, 46, of Belen.For the past seven years, Sanchez has been the special commissioner for domestic violence in the 13th Judicial District.He has also practiced law privately and was the city attorney for Belen from 1983 to 1990 and from 1992 to 1996.He obtained his juris doctorate in 1980 from Drake University Law School.

Los Lunas As a primary judicial leader against domestic violence, Charles Sanchez goes to work every morning and rarely sees a totally unique case on his desk.

But no matter how bleak situations he's dealing with may get, he never gives up his mission to remain fair and protective for the families and victims he serves.

The special commissioner for domestic violence is a graduate of Belen High School and earned his bachelor's degree from New Mexico State University.He later proceeded on to Drake Law School and returned to his hometown where he practiced general law until 1996.After gradually working his way into handling domestic affairs, Sanchez ultimately became special commissioner.

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Sanchez said domestic violence is a major issue in Valencia County and has always seemed more predominant here than in other areas , but he doesn't let the circumstances discourage him.

"I don't know what the stats are exactly, but it seems proportionately higher here than in other counties," Sanchez said.

In some situations, he said, frequent cases of domestic violence have an effect on the community as a whole, primarily by involving the police departments around the area.

"I think that, unfortunately, various police department resources are stretched very thin because of so many cases," Sanchez said.

However, over the past few years, Sanchez said the situation has improved because funding for services and shelters has become more readily available through a variety of sources.He said services such as the Valencia Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence and local help hotlines have served as significant resources for victims of domestic violence.If anyone is in need of support concerning these matters, they may call a 24-hour hotline at 864-1383.

"I always encourage individuals to contact a shelter or file for protection.I would tell victims not to be embarrassed about their situation because it's nothing that they've done to cause the problem," Sanchez said.

Although it is an ongoing struggle, Sanchez said he enjoys his work, finding it a very fulfilling experience.

"I get a sense of accomplishment by helping people," Sanchez said.

However, he said the job doesn't come without it's difficult times.

"It gets discouraging at times because it often gets worse before it gets better, but I try to treat each case individually," Sanchez said."It's hard to watch individuals go through the same situations over and over."

Such a demanding job would require an immense amount of patience and understanding from anyone , characteristics Sanchez said he believes are keys to consistent success in his work.

Growing up with good parents, Sanchez said, he acquired positive characteristics based on the examples his folks set for him.He said he often finds that children are the ones who suffer most in the cases he handles.

"Kids follow by example, which is why people shouldn't tolerate domestic abuse of any kind," Sanchez said.

His cases are frequently challenging, but Sanchez said preparation is essential for a successful case.

"People need to come prepared with evidence," Sanchez said."It's hard to make a decision with no evidence, especially when two people have conflicting versions of the story."

It may seem as though the issues may never go away, but Sanchez said he will remain solid in his stance against domestic violence and will do anything he can to serve his community.

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